The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1887-06-01
A Contest Between Master Mssons and the
Brick and Hud Men.
ALI the Strstegsms Of Modern Strikes t, bs
Brought Into Play.
The Stove-Molders' Strike in Pittsburg
Nearly Ended-Bailey Declines
Re-EIectiOn-Etc., Etc.
THE CHICAGO LOCKOUT.
Seventeen Thousand Idle-schemes of the
Master Masons.


CHICAGO, May 30.-The next six days are
liable to witness the critical period in the
great strike of the building trades. For
four weeks strike has followed strike, ter
minating in lockout effecting to greater
or less extent almost every trade in thecity.
Fully IL, 600 men are idle, and it Is stated,
upon good authority, that over 1000 first
class mechanics have left the city. A care
full estimate shows that wages to the
amount of $500, 600 have been lost to the
strikers. 1t is impossible to estimate the
amount Of capital which has been diverted
from the building trades. Well-known
Eastern capitalists have instructed their
Chicago SCENTS to make no investments
pending the adjustment of the strike, and
in several cases large enterprises will be
dropped until next year and perhaps for
ever. The master masons, realizing that so
long as the trades unions were governed
by their present laws and customs the
strike was liable to be duplicated at any
time, resolved to make a supreme effort to
force the abolition Of the abuses of which
they were conspicuous victims. The code
OF principles and working rules adopted
would, if enforced, result in the complete
abolition of The unions as now constituted.
The developments of the last week have
demonstrated that if this is accomplished
it must be done by the master masons.
They formulated the plan of campaign,
and have asked the kindred trades to in
dorse their code of principles and follow in
their footsteps. The response to that ap-
peal was not so enthusiastic as was ex-
pected by Messrs PrussiDg, Downey, Tap
per and other prominent contracting ma
sons. Tie master carpenters adopted the
platform, but nulli6ed their action by re-
fusiDg to set any date upon
which it was to go into effect.
The recollection of q desperate struggle
with their men, in which honoTs were adj
mitted TO be even, had restraining effect
uuon this powerful organization. a reso-
lutIon will be offered at the next meeting
of the master carpenters making nine
hours days WORK, but from present indi-
cations it will be defeated. The conserva-
tive element in both master masons and
carpenteIsis composed of those contractors
almost entirely dependent upon union la
Dor. In many cases protracted strike
means bankruptcy to the smaller contract
ing carpenters. Many of the leading mas
ter carpenters are owners of sash, door,
blind and planning mills, the ownership of
which gives them great advantage in q
strike or lockout.
An analysis of the situation proves that
the strike has resolved itself into a contest
between the master masons and their en-
ployes, the brick-layers and hod-carriers,
who have formed an offensive and defen-
sive alliance. The other trades represented
in the Builders and Traders Exchange are
in a state o. armed neutrality, and, while
in active sympathy with the master ma
SONS, are afraid to render any practical sup
port. The master masons will depend al
most entirely upon brick-layers from other
cities. The next few days win demonstrate
to what extent this source can be utilized.
The answers to the advertisements Satur-
6ey were encouraging, and IT is believed
that plenty of good men can be secured.
The leaders of the brick-lsyers promise that
no violence will be offered to any of the
imported brlck-layers Every effort will
be used, however, to induce the new comers
to Join the union. and al the strategems OF
modern strikes will be brought into play.